Buoyant swimming aid



United States Patent 72] lnventor Anastasios J. Vasilatos Wilmette,Illinois [211 App]. No. 765,360 [22] Filed Oct. 7, 1968 [45] PatentedDec. 1, 1970 [73] Assignee A.V. American Ventures, Inc.

Wilmette, Illinois a corporation of Illinois [54] BUOYANT SWIMMING AID10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl l15/6.1; 9/311; 115/70 [51] Int. Cl. B63b 21/56 [50] FieldofSearch 9/310, 311, 400, 348; 115/61, 70,11

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,901 .75,7, 9/1959Remington 1 15/70 9/1964 Convis 3,270,707 9/1966 Rozanski.... 115/703,469,555 9/1969 Greiner 1l5/6.l FOREIGN PATENTS 1,011,381 4/1952 Francell5/6.1

1,352,973 1/1964 France 9/310 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler AssistantExaminer-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney-Jacque L. Meister ABSTRACT: Aswimming aid device contoured on its upper side to engage the uppertorso of the user in a manner that allows freedom of motion of the armsand legs and provides buoyancy in direct relationship to the weightdistribution of those parts of the body supported by the device. Thelower side of the device is a hydrodynamically streamlined hull shapewith keellike projections providing lateral stability. Venturi-shapedpassages extending fore and aft are utilized for the location ofpropulsion means.

Pniented we. 1, 1870 Sheet l of 3 Paitenteci Dec. 1, 1970 Sheet 2 ,7 of3 ANASTASM: 1T- VASILMS INVENT R 59M 78- 4/.-

mama Dec. 2, 19m

Sheet ANASTAfjW-A T. VAIILATQ;

I BUOYANT SWIMMING A115 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to buoyant swimming aids and, more particularly, toimproved body-contoured swimming aids, either powered or unpowered.

Devices for supporting a swimmer in the water for lifesaving,instructional or purely recreational purposes, are well known. Among theoldest are the typical donut-shaped life preserver, life jackets, andinflated balloon like devices known as water wings". Still further, anumber of small one man boatlike devices have been developed andpromoted. These prior art devices were however primarily flotation aidsor boats and display little or no thought to the problem ofhydrodynamically adapting the man-device combination to the water-airinterface in a manner which would materially enhance the performance ofman in this environment. Thus, raft like types of flotation devices havebeen proposed such as that shown in the US. Pat. No. 3,147,498 of O. P.Convis and boatlike devices in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,042,945 and3,270,707 of W. M. Saemen and F. G. Rozanski, respectively. However,little or no cross breeding of these devices is apparent and little orno consideration of the physiological adaptive needs of the man-otherthan drowning prevention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide a newand improved swimming aid contoured to simultaneously match bodycontours and present a smooth hydrodynamically streamlined contour tothe water and to attain this object in a form that meshes with the manso perfectly that it presents a minimum of restraint to the torso, armand leg movements of its user.

In keeping with these objects, the inventive swimming aid comprises abuoyant torsoand head-supporting device. The torso-supporting portion,comprises two spaced-apart lateral supporting stabilizers for engagingthe lateral aspects of the thoracic region from the axilla to the hipsand chin and head support extending therefrom in a contour thatpartially surrounds the top of the shoulder. Further, because of thehigh hydrodynamic efficiency of the device, it is possible toincorporate completely selfscontained propelling means. For a betterunderstanding of the invention and its advantages, reference should bemade to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which areillustrated and described specific inventive embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a three-quarter view of theinventive swimming aid with a swimmer shown in phantom to illustrate themandevice-water interfaces;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the swimming aid of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view ofthe swimming aid of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates the body-retaining contour of the inventive swimmingaid when rotated to a vertical position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view in partial section showing a poweredembodiment of the inventive swimming aid;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the propelling unit shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the powered swimming aid, in partial section,showing the water conduit and the location of the propelling unittherein;

FIG. 8 is a wiring schematic for an electrically powered embodiment ofthe inventive swimming aid;

FIG. 9 is a partial view showing an alternative construction of thepowered embodiment of the inventive swimming aid;

FIG. 10 is a side view in partial section showing an alternativepropelling system utilizing stored compressed gas; and

FIG. 11 is another side view in partial section showing still anotheralternative propelling system.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in detail to thedrawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, there is shown at20 the swimming aid device of the invention. The position of a swimmerwhile using the device is indicated in phantom outline at 21. The lowersurface of the device is shaped in boat-hull-like fashion to imparthydrodynamic streamlining and, simultaneously, lateral stability.

A feature of the invention is the shaping of the hull based upon theposition it assumes in water when supporting a swimmer. As can beappreciated, the center of gravity of the combined device and swimmershould be low and within the hull outline and still, the hull and upperbody-receiving surface of the device should be formed to support theswimmers head above the water while placing his body in as nearly anatural swimming position as possible. These requirements are met in theinstant device as follows.

The distribution of buoyancy is maintained substantially identical tothe weight distribution of the torso, arms and head of a swimmer who isproviding positive buoyancy with his legs as by kicking; that is, thedevice by itself is more buoyant in its torso supporting stern portion22 than in its head supporting bow portion 23, in direct relation toaverage body weight distribution. Additionally, this distribution ofbuoyancy is achieved by providing raised torso-supporting sponsonlikelateral stabilizers 24 and 25 on each side'of the upper surface of thedevice extending forward from the stern to the vicinity of the axilla ofthe user which it is contoured to receive at 26 and 27. In this manner,the achieving of buoyancy proportional to body weight distribution isnot only achieved but, simultaneously the torso is partially enfoldedplacing the center of gravity as low as possible while retaining thebody in a nearly normal swimming position.

In further achieving a comfortable natural swimming aid, the upperbody-receiving surface is generally concave shaped at 28 between thestabilizers 24 and 25, the back remaining open to allow freedom for theswimmers legs and the forward head supporting portion 23 being curvedupwardly, away from the water, to support the swimmer's head above thewater. As an additional feature for those swimmers who find a spray ofwater in the face and eyes painful or distasteful, I provide a curvedtransparent plastic screen 29 wherever such a feature is desired.

As stated above, the lower surface of the device is formed to imparthydrodynamic streamlining while maintaining lateral stability. Thisdesirable result is achieved by forming the lower hull-shaped surface 30with long sweeping curves chosen to reducecavitation and eddying as thedevice is propelled forward. The lateral stability achieved by the hullis exceptional for a shallow draft shape and is achieved by utilizingtwo symmetrically opposite concave reliefs 31 and 32 runninglongitudinally from front to rear to form three keellike projections 33,34, and 35 running along the bottom surface 30.

It is a feature of the invention that the swimming aid also functionseffectively as a float either when the swimmer desires to rest or, as alife-preserving device. As shown in FIG. 4, with the swimmer 36 anddevice 20 at rest, a turning couple results and the bow of the swimmingaid rotates upward out of the water in the direction of arrow 37.However, because of the buoyancy of the stern portion 22, the couple iscountered and rotation stops before the exact angle depending on theweight of the swimmer and with heavier swimmers causing proportionallygreater rotation. The buoyancy of a standard sized swimming aid isadjusted so that with a swimmer weighting between I40 and 225 pounds,upward rotation at rest varies between 35 and 75. Since maximum rotationis 75, by maintaining the angle a at an angle of 75 or slightly more(see FIG. 3), the armpit or axilla of the user is gently but positivelyembraced in the rotated position and hence the swimmer may relax withoutfear of losing the device.

As intimated, I have found it desirable to manufacture the swimming aidin several different degrees of buoyancy. I have experimentallydetermined that three such degrees, all with the same overall size, willaccommodate swimmers from under 5 feet tall to 6 feet 6 inches tall withweights ranging from 95 to 285 pounds, respectively. This is highlydesirable from a manufacturing standpoint since a single set of moldscovers a very wide range of figure sizes and weights. This desirablevariation is achievable by varying the density of the closed-cell foamedplastics used to form the swimming aid, the possibilities of controlledvariation being almost infinite with the preferredmaterial-polyurethane. Although other closed-cell foamed materials canbe used, polyurethane is preferred because of its low cost combined withits excellent durability in the water, air, sun ambient surround it isused or stored in.

Because of its streamlined shape, the inventive swimming aid lendsitself to powered propulsion. Some of the propulsion systems actuallytested are shown in somewhat schematic form in FIGS. 5-11 of thedrawing. As can be seen, low thrust systems are ideally suited to thenature of the device although, as will be apparent to many, higherthrust devices such as internal combustion engines can be used but arenot favored since they tend to be objectionably noisy and odorous and tocause physically unpleasant vibration.

FIGS. 57 illustrate a battery powered electric motor driven version ofthe inventive swimming aid. As shown in FIG. 7 (and in FIGS. 2 and 3), Iprovide a pair of water conduits 38 and 39 running longitudinally frombow to stern through the hull of the device. The water inlet 40 isformed with rounded lips to reduce inlet turbulence While the outlet 41is formed as sharply as possible considering material limitations forthe same reason, and to minimize the possibility of the formation of ahigh friction vortex trail. Intermediate its inlet and outlet, theconduit is generally formed somewhat like a venturi tube, the propulsionmeans 42 being placed in the throat proximately adjacent the neck. Thisplacement is facilitated by providing a machinery compartment in eachstabilizer as best shown in FIG. 5. As there shown, the propulsion means42 depends from the cavity 43 into the conduit 39, the cavity beingprovided with an upper access door 44 and being sealed from the conduitby the propulsion means.

As shown in FIG. 6, the electrical propulsion means preferably comprisesa hermetically-sealed permanent-magnet motor 45 having a propeller 46 onits output shaft. The motor 45 is mounted upon a battery support frame47, which frame advantageously also seals conduit 39 from compartment43. Batteries 48 are mounted upon the frame. Batteries eminentlysuitable for this environment and use are the nicklecadmium rechargeabletype recently developed and having a very satisfactory ratio of weightto stored power and stored power to price. In one commercially available6-volt cell weighing 2 pounds, 4 ampere hours capacity is achieved witha battery 6 inches high, 2 inches wide and one-half inch thick (6 inchesX 2 inches X /2 inch). Another available configuration is cylindricaland provides a 750 mjlliamp capacity in a 6%- volt battery one-eighthinch in diameter, 8% inches long, weighing 7% pounds. Still anotherbattery type of suitable size, shape, and weight is a sealed lead-acid.

The operation of the battery powered swimming aid is extremely simple asseen by the electrical schematic of FIG. 8. A rocker type on-off switch49 is positioned where it can be actuated by the chin of the swimmer.After turning the motor on, continued depression of the rocker increasesthe resistance of variable resistor 50 connected in series with themotor armature, thus varying its speed. Of course, the controls andpropulsion units are duplicated, one propulsion unit being positioned ineach of the stabilizers 24 and25.

An alternate configuration for an electrically powered swimming aid, isshown in FIG. 9. As can be seen, the principal variation from that shownin FIG. 5 is the replacement of the water conduit 39 with a troughlikedepression 51 in stabilizer 25. The use of a troughlike depressionresults in modifications to the propulsion means; the principlemodification being an elongated battery support frame 52 to support themotor in the trough.

The troughed configuration is considerably easier to mold than thatemploying a conduit and consequently less expensive. A further advantageof the FIG. 9 configuration is the increased lateral stability arisingfrom yet another keellike ridge. However, offsetting these advantages isthe considerably reduced efficiency of the propulsion means and theincrease in exposure to impact damage of that means. As a result, theconfiguration of FIG. 5 is preferred.

FIG. 10 illustrates yet another propulsion system. In compartment 53 ofstabilizer 25, there is positioned a compressed gas storage tank 54 towhich is affixed, by means of a quickdisconnect coupling, a well knowntype of variable flow valve 55. Valve 55 is controlled by a simple cablesystem (not shown) extending from chin actuated lever 56 to the valve. Agas turbine 57 with affixed propeller 58 is connected to the valve 55 bymeans of pipe 59. A support bracket 60 secures turbine 57 centered inconduit 39. Thus, whenever lever 56 is depressed, gas is released fromcylinder 54 in proportion to lever depression. This actuates turbine 57and drives the swimming aid forward through the water.

While various compressed gases can be used in the embodiment of FIG. 10,I prefer to use compressed carbon dioxide (CO because of its safety, lowcost and ready availability. Commercially filled bottles of carbondioxide are available in both 2%- and 5-lb. sizes, the smaller lastingabout 1% to 2 hours with a constant release at 5 psi. and the largerlasting proportionally longer. With the commercially manufacturedturbine presently used, this provides sufficient thrust from a dualsystem to drive the swimming aid forward at a speed of 2- 3 miles perhour in calm water with a ISO-lb. swimmer minimizing drag by kickinglightly.

Chemical propulsion means may also be used with the inventive swimmingaid. One experimental version of such a chemical propulsion system isshown in FIG. 11. As there shown, two storage tanks 61 and 62 areprovided in stabilizer 25. Each tank is provided with a filler cap, 63and 64 respectively, and each tank has an outlet orifice, 65 and 66respectively. The orifices 65 and 66 are normally closed by a slidingorifice block plate 67 which, when moved forward, opens both orificespermitting the contents of the two tanks to pour into a reaction well 67in water conduit 68. Water conduit 68 is similar to conduit 39 with theexception of well 67 which is an enlarged diameter section positionedintermediate the throat and nozzle of the otherwise conventionalventuri. Orifice block plate 67 is actuated by a cable system and rockerlever identical to that shown and described in connection with FIG. 10and contains apertures whose diameter controls flow rate from eachorifice.

I have utilized various chemical reactants in the embodiment ofFIG. 11as follows:

EXAMPLE NO. 1

K010; (Potassium chloride) 2 parts (by volume). 012E220" (Sucrose) 3parts (by volume).

End Product: H O C10: (Hydrogen chloride gas) EXAMPLE N0. 2

NazCOz (Sodium carbonate) 1 part (by volume). HCH O1 (Acetic Acid) Do.H3O v z End Product: OO;+H2O+KCI features of the swimming aid may beincorporated into a wide variety of specific forms of constructionwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A torsoand head-supporting buoyant swimming aid comprising:

a boat-hull-like lower surface having at least one keellike ridgeextending longitudinally from bow to stem;

a body-contoured upper surface connected to said lower surface anddefining a cavity therebetween, said upper surface comprising:

a raised bow portion to support the chin of the user;

a depressed contoured portion on either side to accept the axilla of theuser;

a raised sponsonlike lateral stabilizer on either side extendingsternward from said depressed contoured portion; and

a generally concave shaped cross section between said stabilizers to fitthe upper torso of the user, the back or stern most extremity remainingopen; and

closed-cell foamed plastic material filling said cavity between saidupper and said lower surfaces, said upper and said lower surfaces beingshaped to define said cavity whereby positive buoyancy is achieved indirect relation to the body weight distribution of the average user.

2. A swimming aid in accord with claim 1 wherein the leading edge ofeach of said stabilizers in is inclined with respect to the waterline ofthe swimming aid to include an angle of substantially 75.

3. A swimming aid in accord with claim 2 wherein said lower surfacecomprises three keellike ridges, one ridge being on the center line ofsaid surface and symmetrically disposed between two auxiliary keellikeridges formed by two symmetrically opposite concave reliefs on eitherside of said centerline, all three keellike ridges extendinglongitudinally from how to stem.

4. A swimming aid in accord with claim 3 further comprising twoventuri-shaped water conduits extending from bow to stern through saidcavity, one conduit being disposed on the outboard side of each of saidauxiliary keels, and propulsion means including a propeller positionedin each of said conduits at the throat of said venturi adjacent the neckthereof.

5. A swimming aid in accord with claim 4 wherein each of said propulsionmeans comprises an electric motor powered by a battery pack located inthe lateral stabilizer adjacent said propulsion means and is actuated byelectrical connecting and switching means connected between said motorand said battery pack whereby said motor may be selectively operated bythe user.

6. A swimming aid in accord with claim 4 wherein each of said propulsionmeans comprises a gas turbine powered by compressed gas, and valve andactuating means, said compressed gas being stored in a tank located inthe lateral stabilizer adjacent said propulsion means, said valve andactuation means being connected to said tank and terminating in ausercontrolled lever whereby said gas turbine is selectively operable bythe user.

7. A swimming aid in accord with claim 3 further comprising:

at least one chemical storage tank means positioned in each of saidlateral stabilizers, said storage tank means having an inlet and anoutlet;

two modified venturi shaped water conduits extending from bow to sternthrough said cavity and including a reaction well aft of the throat ofsaid venturi and generally beneath said storage tank outlet; and

user actuatable orifice plate means disposed between the outlet of saidtank and said reaction well, whereby actuation of 'said orifice platemeans effects the admixture of chemicals in said storage tank means towater present in said reaction well.

8. A swimming aid in accord with claim 7 wherein said storage tank meanscomprises two tanks and said orifice plate is configured to proportionthe contents of said tanks admitted to said reaction well.

9. In a swimming aid in accord with claim 8, the use of potassiumchloride and sucrose in a two to three parts by volume ratio to therebyeffect propulsion of said swimming aid.

10. In a swimming aid in accord with claim 8, the use of sodiumcarbonate and acetic acid in equal volumes to thereby effect propulsionof said swimming aid.

